Three-and-out: QB competitions coming for Buccaneers and Jaguars?

Buccaneers QB Josh McCown (12) is taken down by Jaguars DE Chris Clemons. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)

Observations from the Bucs-Jags preseason game Friday night:

Quarterback competitions coming? (As if the uniforms weren’t bad enough, these offenses threatened to set the NFL back 40 years.) Both Tampa Bay and Jacksonville have young quarterbacks — Mike Glennon and rookie Blake Bortles, respectively — who are scheduled to start 2014 on the pine. But if Friday was any indication, both teams may eventually need to rethink those plans. The Bucs’ Josh McCown and Jags’ Chad Henne each played four series and combined to put up seven points — McCown’s 68-yard pick six to Jaguars S Winston Guy on a throw the quarterback shouldn’t have lofted into the middle of the field while under pressure. McCown also fumbled to end his final drive. Henne was only slightly better, completing four of seven throws for 30 yards — his best play was a fluky 13-yard completion to D.J. Tialavea that caromed off TE Marcedes Lewis and two Tampa Bay defenders before winding up in his hands — and leading the team to 25 total yards and two first downs.

Meanwhile, Bortles, who got quite the ovation from the home crowd upon entering the game, looked sharp. He displayed poise, mobility and made strong and accurate throws — all attributes his first-round predecessor, Blaine Gabbert, rarely showed. Bortles finished 7-for-11 for 117 yards, but his numbers would have been even better had his receivers not dropped so many catchable balls. Glennon entered the game and immediately led the Bucs to three points and later engineered a second-half TD drive. He generally moved the offense more effectively, though against more reserve players.

Woe-lines: In defense of the starting quarterbacks, neither team’s reconfigured offensive line performed well. McCown was under constant duress, sacked twice and both of his turnovers were at least partially due to poor blocking. Jacksonville’s first play from scrimmage was a 5-yard loss after RB Jordan Todman was engulfed by all-pro DT Gerald McCoy after he shot the gap. Jaguars C Mike Brewster, who’s trying to replace retired Brad Meester, personally snuffed two drives with snaps over Henne’s head. Bortles was taken down by the neck on a sack he had little chance to avoid.

Some roar from Jags D: Coach Gus Bradley is trying to build a defense in the mold of the one he helped shape for the Seattle Seahawks. The Jags don’t have the personnel yet the champs enjoy, but they certainly showed spunk Friday. Guy’s return of McCown’s INT was the play of the night. And it was largely a byproduct of the relentless pressure the front four generated. DT Sen’Derrick Marks, who quietly signed a four-year, $22 million extension at the end of last season, was repeatedly in McCown’s face and forced a fumble that was negated by a penalty. Disappointing former first rounder Tyson Alualu stripped McCown, and ex-Seahawks pass rusher Chris Clemons notched a sack. Given the shaky state of the offense, the Jacksonville defense may have to do much of the heavy lifting this season to keep the team competitive.